Manatee deputy's firing is upheld

Robert Craig, a former Manatee County sheriff's deputy, second from left, listens to opening statements during a hearing appealing his termination at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in Bradenton on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.

Published: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 6:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 6:09 p.m.

That one word consecutively spoken by three people confirmed the end of Robert Craig's employment as a deputy at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Ultimately, the Career Service Appeal Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to uphold the department's decision to terminate Craig for conduct unbecoming a deputy.

The decision came after approximately eight hours of testimony, arguments, tension and objections.

Majors Connie Shingledecker and B.G. Dixon — chosen by Sheriff Brad Steube to serve on the board; Deputy Patti Smith — appointed by Craig; and Deputy Tim Eason — chosen by the appeal board to act as chairman, voted to terminate. Corrections deputy Kelly Lanford was the only person to oppose that level of discipline.

All five members agreed that Craig's involvement in an undercover steroids operation was a violation of general orders.

Craig, 34, is one of four former employees who lost their jobs this summer after the sting. The other three deputies purchased steroids.

Craig has indicated that he believes he was fired for being gay, and Steube has rebutted that claim. The service board determined that although Craig did not purchase steroids, he still spoke with a confidential informant about purchasing the substances.

“He made some choices the rest of us wouldn't make,” Lanford said. “All of us have different life experiences and we make our decisions on what we've encountered in our lifetime.”

“I don't think he should be terminated,” Lanford later said.

Informant's story

Wayne Evans, who represented the Office of Professional Standards, argued through witnesses that Craig's testimony has been inconsistent and that he must have known the substances were illegal because they would be injected with a needle, he talked about random drug screening and he expressed concern about losing his job.

Shingledecker called the testimony of Jac Choate — the confidential informant — the “most compelling” of the day.

Choate, hidden behind a black screen, explained that in July he was caught picking up steroids from his supplier. In hopes of avoiding or lessening criminal charges filed against him, he agreed to act as a confidential informant for the Sheriff's Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

The informant said he and Craig previously bonded over their fathers dying of cancer and a mutual interest in exercise.

Though he never used the terms “steroids,” “narcotics” or “controlled substance” in conversation, Choate said Craig understood that what he agreed to buy was illegal.

Choate said he explained to Craig that using nutritional supplements and natural testosterone boosters can be expensive to determine what regimen works best, but “the real stuff works for everyone.”

The informant said he knew Craig was intimately interested in him. On one occasion he texted a shirtless photo of his upper body. On another he sent a pornographic image he said he downloaded from the Internet “to keep him (Craig) as a client.”

Choate also said he agreed to have a “threesome” with Craig and a woman. Nothing physical ever took place between the two men.

Major Dennis Dummer, who upheld the department's termination of Craig during a previous hearing to show cause in the case, explained the reasons behind his decision.

“The public trust is one of the most fundamental things we must embrace as an agency,” Dummer said. “The fact that he was negotiating the purchase of illegal drugs, for whatever reason, undermined that public trust.

“He didn't follow through therefore he was not charged criminally; however, he damaged his reputation as a law enforcement officer.”

Naivete and ignorance

Through his own testimony, Craig said he was wrong to pretend to be interested in something — illegal or not — in order to seduce Choate.

But he maintains that when he learned the substances might be illegal, he` canceled his order and planned to file an anonymous intelligence report.

Several deputies spoke about Craig's naivete.

“I think he is too trusting of people sometimes,” said Deputy Amanda Grant. “He sometimes gives people the benefit of the doubt.”

Deputy Ben Quick, who alerted Craig that the substances might be illegal, said Craig is ignorant when it comes to weight-lifting.

“When we first started working out he couldn't do a proper curl right,” Quick said. “I would say his gym knowledge is very low — lower than the average person.”

Lutinski said Supertest — one of the items Craig agreed to buy — is a legal product, and even brought in a bottle of the supplement. He also said that while testosterone propionate — another product mentioned in Craig's case — is only legal with a prescription, there are altered versions that go by the same name and can be purchased online.

Craig chalked up his involvement to ignorance and sexual motives, admitting that he should have handled the situation differently.

Lesson learned

After the hearing, Craig said he was disappointed in the board's decision but not surprised.

“I'm going to pick myself up and be careful about who I'm friends with,” Craig said. “I'll be a stronger person and better officer.”

In reference to his sexual orientation being a factor in his termination, Craig said he plans to work for another law enforcement agency where gay officers are treated the same as heterosexual ones.

Craig and at least two other former LGBT deputies plan to file an equal employment opportunity complaint with the sheriff's office alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation. Those other former deputies were present for the hearing.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Upheld. Upheld. Upheld.</p><p>That one word consecutively spoken by three people confirmed the end of Robert Craig's employment as a deputy at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Ultimately, the Career Service Appeal Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to uphold the department's decision to terminate Craig for conduct unbecoming a deputy.</p><p>The decision came after approximately eight hours of testimony, arguments, tension and objections.</p><p>Majors Connie Shingledecker and B.G. Dixon — chosen by Sheriff Brad Steube to serve on the board; Deputy Patti Smith — appointed by Craig; and Deputy Tim Eason — chosen by the appeal board to act as chairman, voted to terminate. Corrections deputy Kelly Lanford was the only person to oppose that level of discipline.</p><p>All five members agreed that Craig's involvement in an undercover steroids operation was a violation of general orders.</p><p>Craig, 34, is one of four former employees who lost their jobs this summer after the sting. The other three deputies purchased steroids.</p><p>Craig has indicated that he believes he was fired for being gay, and Steube has rebutted that claim. The service board determined that although Craig did not purchase steroids, he still spoke with a confidential informant about purchasing the substances.</p><p>Shingledecker cited “unethical behavior,” while Dixon noted “personal integrity” as reasons behind their votes. Smith and Eason echoed those thoughts.</p><p>“He made some choices the rest of us wouldn't make,” Lanford said. “All of us have different life experiences and we make our decisions on what we've encountered in our lifetime.” </p><p>“I don't think he should be terminated,” Lanford later said.</p><p><B>Informant's story</b></p><p>Wayne Evans, who represented the Office of Professional Standards, argued through witnesses that Craig's testimony has been inconsistent and that he must have known the substances were illegal because they would be injected with a needle, he talked about random drug screening and he expressed concern about losing his job.</p><p>Shingledecker called the testimony of Jac Choate — the confidential informant — the “most compelling” of the day.</p><p>Choate, hidden behind a black screen, explained that in July he was caught picking up steroids from his supplier. In hopes of avoiding or lessening criminal charges filed against him, he agreed to act as a confidential informant for the Sheriff's Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.</p><p>The informant said he and Craig previously bonded over their fathers dying of cancer and a mutual interest in exercise.</p><p>Though he never used the terms “steroids,” “narcotics” or “controlled substance” in conversation, Choate said Craig understood that what he agreed to buy was illegal.</p><p>Choate said he explained to Craig that using nutritional supplements and natural testosterone boosters can be expensive to determine what regimen works best, but “the real stuff works for everyone.”</p><p>The informant said he knew Craig was intimately interested in him. On one occasion he texted a shirtless photo of his upper body. On another he sent a pornographic image he said he downloaded from the Internet “to keep him (Craig) as a client.” </p><p>Choate also said he agreed to have a “threesome” with Craig and a woman. Nothing physical ever took place between the two men.</p><p>Major Dennis Dummer, who upheld the department's termination of Craig during a previous hearing to show cause in the case, explained the reasons behind his decision.</p><p>“The public trust is one of the most fundamental things we must embrace as an agency,” Dummer said. “The fact that he was negotiating the purchase of illegal drugs, for whatever reason, undermined that public trust.</p><p>“He didn't follow through therefore he was not charged criminally; however, he damaged his reputation as a law enforcement officer.”</p><p><B>Naivete and ignorance</b></p><p>Through his own testimony, Craig said he was wrong to pretend to be interested in something — illegal or not — in order to seduce Choate.</p><p>But he maintains that when he learned the substances might be illegal, he` canceled his order and planned to file an anonymous intelligence report.</p><p>Several deputies spoke about Craig's naivete.</p><p>“I think he is too trusting of people sometimes,” said Deputy Amanda Grant. “He sometimes gives people the benefit of the doubt.”</p><p>Deputy Ben Quick, who alerted Craig that the substances might be illegal, said Craig is ignorant when it comes to weight-lifting.</p><p>“When we first started working out he couldn't do a proper curl right,” Quick said. “I would say his gym knowledge is very low — lower than the average person.”</p><p>Craig's attorney, Peter Lombardo, had Jeremy Lutinski, owner of Total Nutrition in Sarasota, testify.</p><p>Lutinski said Supertest — one of the items Craig agreed to buy — is a legal product, and even brought in a bottle of the supplement. He also said that while testosterone propionate — another product mentioned in Craig's case — is only legal with a prescription, there are altered versions that go by the same name and can be purchased online.</p><p>Craig chalked up his involvement to ignorance and sexual motives, admitting that he should have handled the situation differently.</p><p><B>Lesson learned </b></p><p>After the hearing, Craig said he was disappointed in the board's decision but not surprised.</p><p>“I'm going to pick myself up and be careful about who I'm friends with,” Craig said. “I'll be a stronger person and better officer.”</p><p>In reference to his sexual orientation being a factor in his termination, Craig said he plans to work for another law enforcement agency where gay officers are treated the same as heterosexual ones.</p><p>Craig and at least two other former LGBT deputies plan to file an equal employment opportunity complaint with the sheriff's office alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation. Those other former deputies were present for the hearing.</p><p>Craig also said he is considering legal action.</p>